Half-back Walsh was given the captain's armband for the match in the absence of the injured Jon Wilkin, and Cunningham believes that the Australian put in one of his best displays for the club.

"Our halves controlled the game lovely and it was definitely one of Luke Walsh's best games since he pulled on a saints shirt," he told the club's official website. "I thought he had been building to something really nice over the last two previous weeks. We have been showing him footage, showing him he is going well but he is his own worst critic.

"We made him captain and he stood up and was counted. We asked him in the week if he would do it and he said it would be a privilege. He led the team wonderfully from the start."